The Birds with Rod Taylor: DVD Cover

    The Birds Director: Alfred Hitchcock Cast: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette

    DVD - Wide Screen / Dolby 5.1 / Mono Learn more

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    • DVD Release Date: 03/28/2000
    • Original Release: 1963
    • Rating: Rated PG13
    • Sales Rank: 1,412

    Viewer Rating: (19 ratings)

    Detailed Rating: "Exciting" See All

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    • Overview
    • Editorial Reviews
    • Scenes
    • Customer Reviews
    • Cast & Crew
    • Full Product Details

    Scenes

    Features

    All About "The Birds"; Deleted scenes; Original ending; Storyboard sequence; Tippi Hendren's screen test; "The Birds Is Coming" [Universal international newsreel]; "Suspense Story: National Press Club Hears Hitchcock" [Universal International newsreel]; Production photographs; Production notes; Cast and filmmakers; Theatrical trailer; Universal web link

    Full Product Details

    Scene Index

    Side #1 --
    0. Chapter List
    1. Main Titles [:09]
    2. At the Pet Store [1:34]
    3. The Love Birds [7:51]
    4. Bodega Bay [8:34]
    5. Meeting Mrs. Brenner [1:53]
    6. The Chickens Won't Eat [6:07]
    7. At Annie's House [3:21]
    8. Cathy's Party [2:40]
    9. Dinner [1:22]
    10. Dan Fawcett's Farm [7:20]
    11. The School [:30]
    12. At the Restaurant [6:18]
    13. The Gas Station [4:08]
    14. The Phone Booth [1:14]
    15. Laying Blame [:49]
    16. Where's Cathy? [4:50]
    17. Under Seige [1:33]
    18. Upstairs [7:48]
    19. Evicted [:35]
    20. The Only Way Out [6:56]

    Scene Index

    Editorial Reviews

    Arguably the last great movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds eschews customary fright-film formulas and settings to show what might happen to ordinary people in everyday settings if one species decided to suddenly wage war on another. Beautiful blonde Tippi Hedren portrays a bored playgirl who arrives in a coastal California community just as huge flocks of birds begin attacking the inhabitants for no apparent reason. She seeks temporary shelter with bachelor attorney Rod Taylor while the feathered felons continue to wreak havoc in the small town. Evan Hunter's script never offers a satisfactory explanation for the mass assault, but rationality isn't important in this film -- survival is. In fact, because there is no reason for the birds to act as they do, Hitchcock is able to precisely manipulate the atmosphere of mounting terror. It's a reflection of his genius that The Birds still keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Ed Hulse, Barnes & Noble

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    Customer Reviews

    Creature Feature Thrillsby Anjoel22

    Reader Rating:
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    October 20, 2008: Hitchcock's genius made a story about seemingly laughable killer birds into a chilling and effective piece of cinematic history. The story opens slowly with a peculiar girl going out of her way (literally) to flirt with a strange man. Soon she arrives in the tiny seaside town of Bodega Bay, CA (a real-life town that since the filming remains almost untouched by time. If you happen to be in North California it is worth a side trip. Many of the film's locations still stand.). Almost as soon as she gets there things slowly start going awry. A seagull crashes into her head. Farm chickens stop eating and birds fly into front doors and die. Soon enough they become agressive towards the townsfolk and everyone starts to panic. Fingers are pointed and some wonder if the arrival of this strange woman has anything to do with the unnatural events taking place. Could she have trigged an avian armageddon? As the birds become more violent and the body count rises the population boards themselves inside their houses and some let fear get the better of them. Some make plans to flee the town but passing radio reports tell of attacks on other small towns. The ending is creepy and ominous but would have been even more so if Hitchcock's budget would have allowed for the original ending shot: the Golden Gate Bridge completely covered with birds. This film is iconic for a reason. It stands the test of time and lives up to all the hype: A Hollywood Classic.

    I Also Recommend: Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Season One, Rear Window, Vertigo, The Lady Vanishes, House of Wax/Mystery of the Wax Museum.

    Well, there it is...by Anonymous

    Reader Rating:
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    April 01, 2006: Hitchcock is one of, if not, the best thriller moviemakers ever. There are two movies that have some major plotholes: The Birds, and Vertigo. But I'll talk about The Birds right now. For example: after the first major bird attack, @ the birthday party, why didn't they get out of there? Or, why would they think they are safe in the house when birds came flying through the fireplace? Or why would Mrs. Haywood or anyone else decide to let other people or themselves outside by the birds? Why didn't Tippi Hedren phone her newspaper dad right away after the first bird attacks? Why would she open the attic door if she already heard wings flapping? The ending wasn't great, either. Hitchcock's weakest film ever besides Vertigo. The Birds and Vertigo had their little moments, it's just that they didn't have enough of them.


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    common sense media

    This item Rated Appropriate for Ages 14 and Up

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    Why We Rated This Appropriate for Ages 14 and UP

    What to watch out for

    • Drugs:

      Characters are shown drinking alcohol; one character is presented as an amusing drunk.

    • Violence:

      No gore and violence takes place off-screen, but some of the scenes, particularly the one where off-screen birds attack and wound screaming children on a playground, are downright disturbing. Some deaths.

    • Consumerism:

      Not an issue.

    • Language:

      Not an issue.

    • Messages:

      Not an issue.

    • Sex:

      Innuendos are couched so delicately they'll sail right over the heads of anyone under high-school age.

    What Parents Need to Know

    About TheBirds

    Parents need to know that this film isn't dirty, gory, or any of the other things parents fear from brutal modern horror flicks, however some of the scenes, particularly the one where off-screen birds attack and wound screaming children on a playground, are downright disturbing. Most of the fear is derived from suspense.

    Families Can Talk About

    Families can talk about respecting animals and their habitats. Why do the birds attack humans? Hitchcock is considered the master of suspense, never showing violence, but always implying it. Do you find movies scarier with or without onscreen gore?